The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We are on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries, bringing international opportunity to life, every day. Our role is to create a friendly knowledge and understanding between people of the UK and people of other countries. To do this we work in the Arts, Education & Society, and English Language training, reaching millions of people each year and helping to build trust between them worldwide.

The overall purpose of this post is to lead on implementing the delivery of British Council arts and creative economy programme in Romania. The post holder will ensure there is a strong strategy led focus to all our arts work that is fully aligned with the global and regional Arts strategy. S/he will ensure key audiences are engaged through high profile events, traditional and social media, maximise opportunities for partnership co-creation, funding and delivery, and extend strong bilateral and regional relationships across art forms to underpin and support our work in other areas.

A secondary purpose of this post is to co-ordinate contact between British Council Arts managers / project managers working on arts related projects in the South East Europe cluster of countries (from September this will be Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia/Slovenia, Cyprus and Greece) and where necessary provide advice and support to non Arts specialists. It is expected that this will take up an average of 1-2 working days per month.

The postholder will support funding development with Trusts, Foundations and Corporate partners, and where applicable support bids for EU co-operation. The objective is to build sustainable funding partnerships which ensure high visibility, high quality, and continuity of delivery. Increasing our relevance and reach to the next generation of audiences is a priority, and therefore innovations, integrated digital components, and market insight are essential. Planning, monitoring and evaluating the reach and impact of programmes against agreed priorities will be a priority.

The postholder will report to the Country Director. S/he will work as part of a team representing Arts, Education & Society, and English, to shape and deliver an integrated programme that supports our wider cultural relations mission. Promoting links to our teaching centre customers and clients will be a key part of this role. S/he will also work closely with the Director Arts EU and a wider team of global Arts managers (particularly those in the South East Europe cluster of countries) and UK sector advisers and will be expected to provide informed assessments of the Romania and UK arts scene.

Romania and the UK have strong historical and cultural ties. The reputation of the UK and its cultural and educational institutions as well as its reputation for a dynamic creative economy make relations with the UK attractive to Romanian partners. Equally, Romania is seen in the UK as an important emerging partner in Europe, with growing links in trade, defence and security.

Romania is a high priority country for the British Council in the EU Europe region with a thriving programme in the strategic business areas of English, the Arts, and Education & Society. This includes large and fast expanding operations in Teaching and Exams.

British Council is also a member of EUNIC Romania (EU National Institutes for Culture), contributing to and communicating with peer organisations from around the world towards shared cultural relations objectives. Post-referendum, working effectively and enthusiastically with other EUNIC members is a particular priority.

Our Arts programme focuses on the development of long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with Arts organisations in Romania, Europe and further afield. We raise awareness on themes such as cultural diversity, leadership and other societal issues, highlighting the United Kingdom as a creative, diverse and innovative nation. Central to our Europe programme is the importance of the arts as a means for social innovation, well-being and growth. In 2015 we identified five principal thematic streams to our work in the arts in Europe: Arts and Disability; Digital; Cultural Skills; Creative Economy; and Showcasing.

The EU region’s commitment to reach new and larger audiences in a meaningful way, and to do this with alternative sources of funding presents a challenge that will result in significant changes in the coming years. Our partnerships agenda is looking at developing more cross-sectoral work and large-scale projects, aiming at gaining funding from various sources, including European funding programmes, government, corporate and charitable sectors. At the same time, we are seeking innovation and ambition in our surplus generating activities. Internal and external communication is even more important to ensure resources, ideas and opportunities are maximised and to maintain our profile as a cultural relations leader in Romania. Multilateral programmes are of strategic importance to our work in Cultural Relations, and we are looking for opportunities to scale up local programmes at regional level, as well as develop successful programmes from other countries to involve Romanian audiences and partners. Equally important is robust market analysis and evaluation of our programmes to support innovation and income generation.

Responsible for designated programmes in the Arts sector, the postholder is required to participate fully in an integrated, cross-sector team that also encompasses English and Education & Society sectors, sharing best practice, external developments, and contributing to integrated programme development,

Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties:

Maintain a strong strategic focus to the Romania arts programme

The arts programme will be subject to continuous strategic review ensuring that the work we do in the arts connects with country, regional and corporate aims and is in line with the global arts strategy and that we rigorously monitor and evaluate impact. The post-holder will ensure that partnerships are aligned with strategy, avoid delivering work which dilutes our impact and take measurement seriously. The arts should play an important role in bringing credible and meaningful diversity to our work.

Maintain and develop close understanding of the arts scene in Romania and links with the relevant sectors in the UK

Through our arts programme we will have better understanding of the cultural environment in Romania and will have relationships in place to develop opportunities for collaboration. To be credible in the arts the British Council must be able to comment on and analyse the arts scene in Romania and to bring knowledge and understanding of developments in the UK. The post-holder will therefore need to understand our work and will provide advice to UK organisations, artists and professional networks on cooperation with Romania. Understanding context, developing content and expanding networks of contacts in both countries will underpin our work. Providing efficient and relevant advice to enquiries from the Romanian and UK arts sectors is important and must comply with British Council service standards.

Deliver arts programmes and events

Working with partners, the post holder will plan and deliver a cross-sectoral, diverse arts programme throughout the year in consultation with Country Director and the EU Arts lead. As part of a small Programmes team, the post holder will need to manage every stage of programme planning, delivery and evaluation to British Council standards.

Develop partnerships, regional initiatives and co-create projects

A crucial part of the role is the ability to develop and deliver projects and nurture new partnerships with institutions in Romania, the UK and across the region. To do this it will be necessary to deploy excellent relationship building and networking skills to work effectively with colleagues in the UK and in other British Council offices to identify and develop plans for projects, partners and audience development.

Commissioning research, developing project concepts and writing project proposals will be part of the role. It is possible that the post holder will also take responsibility for a key programme or strand at regional level, working with Arts Managers from across the EU. This will be determined according to need, strategic priorities for Romania, and the relevant expertise or experience of the successful candidate.

Co–ordinate contact between British Council Arts managers / project managers on arts related projects in South East Europe

Increasingly the EU Europe region is seeking to set up structures and working processes to share experience, identify successes in one country and replicate them in others, provide support for colleagues, and work together to address areas of concern. Co-ordinating this work with a specific focus on arts projects supports Country Director Romania in his role as cluster lead for for South East Europe. Currently, in the SEE cluster only Greece has a designated Arts manager, but all countries have contacts and programmes in the area of arts, and there is a recently developed strategy for engagement in the arts in ‘smaller’ less well resourced countries. This work is likely to involve setting up and chairing monthly conference calls, peer-reviewing arts sections of country plans, using email to share information from regional meetings where not all countries are represented, responding to ad hoc requests for advice and support etc. It is expected that this work will take up no more than an average of 1-2 working days per month.

Contribute to multilateral and cross-sectoral programme development

The post holder will be part of both cross-sectoral, integrated programme development and delivery at country level, as well as a wider network of arts managers at regional and global level working with EU Head of Arts. The ability to identify and scale up opportunities to develop programmes at a multilateral level is an essential part of the role.

Programme innovation

The post holder will deliver innovation in programme design, supporting roll out of digital programming from our regional teams and identifying opportunities for digital engagement and reach. The post holder will draw on internal and external expertise where appropriate to ensure our digital estate is continuously updated with innovative and creative content.

Support integrated client services

The post holder will work with colleagues from Education and Society and English sectors for integrated programme and partnership development. Understanding and responding to our customers and audiences, and providing evidence of this, will be essential. She/he will also support our face to face customer service and senior relationship management by providing opportunities for cultural programming as part of our Teaching Centres and Exams partnerships programme offers: developing partnerships and offers with cultural institutions, and delivering artistic interventions throughout the year. The post holder will also recognise the value of our English-language and professional training programmes to the arts sector, and will be able to represent these services to potential arts clients.

Deliver high quality communications which ensure that the impact of our work in the arts is amplified through digital and social networking media, the regular press and internal channels Every project or activity will have a communications plan to ensure that our work in the arts supports our country aims. Without a story or publicity our work in the arts cannot make an impact. The post-holder must therefore work closely and effectively with the Marketing and Communications team and ensure excellent long-term planning and sharing of information.

Market Insight, Audience Development and Evaluation

Central to our strategy is to reach more diverse audiences, and engage with the next generation by delivering training and content that is relevant to young people. The postholder will research and provide robust evidence of market need, audience reach and qualitative and quantative evaluation of impact for all programmes.

Support representation at Embassy and other Cultural Institutes

The postholder will support the Country Director in maintaining relations and effective co-oeration with EUNIC Romania and its members, and ensure at least two collaborations per year. She/he will support the Country Director in representing our work to the Embassy and to deliver relevant information or support activities with them.

Relationship building

The post-holder will support relationship management with appropriate levels of investment and care, and use our arts events, our people, our assets and our connections to build as wide a constituency as possible with people who can help us achieve our objectives. Relationships must be carefully managed and shared with senior management, global and regional colleagues to ensure consistent British Council representation and awareness with stakeholders, partners and the professional arts community. The postholder will also be expected to articulate effectively British Council higher level regional and corporate plans to external contacts and stakeholders.

Develop partnership funding and sponsorship

Working closely with the Country Director and, where appropriate, other colleagues in Romania and elsewhere in EU Europe, the post holder will support, and where appropriate lead on, funding pursuit and implementation of a funding strategy, exploring both public and private funding opportunities. Equally important is an understanding of in kind benefit, building on our global reputation and expertise to develop high-impact programmes through in kind support.

Develop regional initiatives

It is possible that the post holder will also take responsibility for a key programme or strand at regional level, working with Arts Managers from across the EU. This will be determined according to need, strategic priorities for Romania, and the relevant expertise or experience of the successful candidate.

Manage finance and risk

As the budget holder for the arts in Romania (currently at £35K expenditure, with an expectation over time to generate significantly more than this in partnership funding, both cash and in-kind), the biggest of Romania ‘s Strategic Business Unit budgets, the post holder will be responsible for the day to day management of the budget: all aspects of financial control, forecasting, reporting and monitoring expenditure and income as well as risk management. Budgets must be managed in line with British Council standards of Financial control. Quarterly reporting and monitoring must be rigorous and fully consistent with SAP the corporate accounting system. Risks must be reported and managed and impact targets for all aspects of our arts work set and monitored.

Manage staff

The post currently will line manage one Arts officer (grade H) and one member of the communications team (grade G) who assists with communication, reporting and evaluation for the projects and partnerships portfolio (Arts, Education & Society, English).. Managing external providers will be a key responsibility. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that all management of staff and external contacts is in line with the British Council’s systems (ie Performance Management and Professional Development), behaviours and values.

Key relationships:

Arts institutions in Romania, including key individuals in the Ministry of Culture and RomanianCultural Institute

UK leading arts institutions and individuals

EUNIC Romania and its members

Arts foundations and other key external project partners

Relevant Arts media / journalists / communicators

Head of Arts British Council EU region

Colleagues in British Council UK Arts departments

British Council Arts managers throughout the network, but especially EU, and within this especially the South East Europe cluster of countries

British Council Local and Regional Marketing and Communications teams

Colleagues in British Council Romania including Country Director and country leads for English, Education & Society

Other important features or requirements of the job

This is a key post during a period of significant change, and so the ability to work in dispersed and varied teams is essential. Infrequent overseas travel; frequent in-country travel; flexible working times and unsocial hours with attendance at evening and weekend events requested. The post is on a Romania locally based contract under local terms & conditions (details available on request).

Candidate must have the right to work in EU and to travel freely to other EU countries

Person Specification

Behaviours

Creating Shared Purpose (level – more demanding)

Connecting with others (level – more demanding)

Being accountable (level – more demanding)

Making it happen(level – more demanding)

Shaping the Future Working together (level – more demanding)

Working together (level – more demanding)

Skills and Knowledge

Detailed knowledge of UK arts sector and Romania arts sector

Supported by close knowledge of cultural policy at national and regional level, with a strong network of personal contacts with leaders and influencers in the Romania arts sector.

Using technology: Operates as an advanced user; Works as an advanced practitioner in the use of office software and/or British Council standard and social media platforms and trains or coaches others in their use.

Knowledge and experience of communications online and via traditional media.

Demonstrable expertise in one of the British Council Europe’s five thematic strands: Showcasing, Arts and Disability, Digital, Cultural Skills or the Creative Economy.

English and Romanian to at least C1 (CEFR) level/IELTS 6.5+

Experience

At least three years’ recent professional experience of working in project management, communications, or fund-raising in a field directly related to arts (ie one or more of arts events management, cultural policy, creative economy, or creative skills); Experience of fundraising, communications and audience development.